Apparatus for coloring flour



y 1935. A. E. BOSTROM ET AL APPARATUS FOR COLORING FLOUR Filed Aug. 2, 1933 ms m o ,r. m s Dwm 5 P mm MW 44 Patented July 2, 1935 APPARATUS FOR COLORING FLOUR Arthur E. Bostrom and Austin P. Summers, Spokane, Wash.

Application August 2, 1933, Serial No. 683,358

1 Claim.

Our invention relates to apparatus for coloring flour and is adapted for use in carrying out the method set forth in our copending patent application entitled Process for coloring flour, Serial No. 673,219, filed May 2'7, 1933. Certain objects of our present invention are to provide an apparatus consisting of a nozzle member interposed between a supply hopper and a receptacle and whereby dye is thoroughly mixed with flour in its passage from the hopper, through the apparatus and into the receptacle. Further objects are to provide a novel arrangement and construction of the nozzle whereby the flour and dye are thoroughly mixed. And still further objects are to provide a nozzle comprising a central tubular member through which the flour passes, an outer tubular jacket through which compressed air passes, and an intermediate tubular jacket through which the dye passes, and means whereby the flour, dye and compressed air are brought together and thoroughly mixed at a common point outside of the apparatus.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of the novel construction, adaptation, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed. These objects are accomplished by the devices illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein: Figure 1 is a view in vertical section of the supply hopper and the receptacle with the connecting nozzle member shown in elevation; Fig. 2 is a view in horizontal section taken substantially on a broken line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 8 is an enlarged view in front elevation of the nozzle with parts broken away; Fig. 4 is a view in central vertical section of the nozzle taken on a broken line l4 of Fig. 3; and Fig. 5 is a view in side elevation showing a modified form of nozzle with parts in section.

Referring in detail to the drawing, throughout which like reference numerals indicate like parts, the numeral 5 designates a conical supply hopper that is air tight and wherein the uncolored flour is placed. A perforated shelf 6 is fixed within and across the lower portion of said hopper, and a shaft 1 extends upwardly through a packing gland 8 at the bottom of the hopper and centrally through the perforated shelf. A disc 9, having perforations corresponding and registering with the perforations through the shelf, is fixed to the upper end of said shaft and rests on said shelf. Said disc is held down against the shelf by a spring l coiled around the shaft below the hopper, and a plurality of fingers H is radially fixed to said shaft within the hopper immediately below the shelf and extend down against the walls of said hopper to the bottom thereof. Compressed air is supplied to the air tight hopper by means of a pipe I2 and, upon rotary movement of the shaft by any desired means, it is obvious that the flour within the hopper will move down through the perforations in the disc and shelf and be agitated by the fingers H in its passage to the outlet l3 at the bottom of the hopper. Y

The most important features of our invention reside in a nozzle member which is connected to the outlet 13 at the bottom of the hopper 5. Said nozzle comprises a central tubular member I 4 whose inner end is threaded into said outlet and whose outer end is reduced to provide a contracted discharge end I5. Threaded onto said tubular member is an intermediate jacket member l6 reduced at its outer end and having a chamber H which surrounds said tubular member and converges at its outer end thus forming a restricted outlet or discharge passage l8 around the discharge end i 5 of the central tubular member ll. The size of said restricted outlet may, of

course, be varied by threadedly moving the jacket member l6 inwardly or outwardly. A jamb nut l9 may be used on the threaded portion of the tubular member I4 and tightened against the inner end of the jacket member l6 for the purpose of retaining said jacket member in any desired position thereby regulating the size of the outlet l8 as will be understood. A passage extends through the jacket member l6 into communication with the chamber i1, and a hose 2| may be connected with said passage in any desired manner for the purpose of supplying liquid dye or the like as more fully hereinafter set forth.

An outer jacket member 22 is threaded onto the intermediate jacket member i6 and encloses its outer end with the exception of a restricted annular discharge orifice 23 surrounding the reduced outer end of the intermediate jacket memher and communicating with an annular chamber 24 disposed between said outer and intermediate jacket members. The size of said discharge orifice may, of course, be varied by threadedly moving the outer jacket member back and forth. A passage 25 extends through said outer jacket into communication with the chamber 24, and a hose 26 may be connected with said passage in any desired manner for the purpose of supplying compressed air or other projecting medium.

In the operation of the device the flour is fed from the hopper 5 by the foregoing described means and under pressure through the outlet l3 and through the tubular member ll from which it is discharged by the reduced end l5 thereof. Referring to Fig. 4 of the drawing, an important feature of our invention resides in so converging the restricted discharge orifices l8 and 23 that their lines of convergence will meet at a common point 21 outside of the device as indicated in dotted lines. Therefore when the flour is projected outwardly from the reduced end of the tubular member into a receptacle 28 it will be thoroughly mixed at this point by the blast of compressed air from the pipe 26 and issuing from the orifice 23. At the same time liquid dye from the pipe 2| and passing out of the orifice l8 will be taken up by the blast and thoroughly mixed with the flour. In the modified form shown in Fig. 5 small jets 29 may be installed on the outer face of the outer jacket 22 and in communication with the chamber 24 so that some compressed air will be blown out through perforations 30 in their outer end portions thus aiding the mixing of the dye with the flour.

While we have described our invention as adapted for mixing dye with flour, it will be understood that same is not limited to this particular usage and that it may be used for any other purpose to which it is adapted. Having thus described our invention, it being understood that minor changes may be resorted to in its construction and arrangement without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention, what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:-

The combination with a supply hopper and a receptacle, of a nozzle member interposed and forming a direct connection between said hopper and receptacle, said nozzle comprising an inner tubular member having a threaded end connected to the bottom of the hopper and a reduced vdischarge end communicating with the receptacle, an intermediate jacket member threaded onto the inner tubular member, said intermediate jacket having an annular chamber surrounding the outer portion of the tubular member and terminating in a restricted discharge passage surrounding the reduced discharge end of the tubular member within the receptacle, a conduit extending through the intermediate jacket into communication with the chamber surrounding the outer portion of the tubular member, an outer jacket threaded onto the intermediate jacket, said outer jacket having an annular chamber surrounding the outer portion of the intermediate jacket and terminating in a restricted discharge passage surrounding the aforesaid restricted discharge passage within the receptacle; a conduit extending through the outer jacket into communication with the chamber surrounding the outer portion of the intermediate jacket, and said two restricted discharge passages convergently ar ranged whereby their lines of inclination concentrate at a point outside of the jackets and in alignment with the reduced discharge end of the tubular member within the receptacle.

ARTHUR E. BOSTROM. AUSTIN P. SUMMERS. 

